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Friends came to the defense Wednesday of Terry Petit-Frere, a 17-year-old suspect that police said has been charged in two recent armed kidnappings. NBC 6's Gilma Avalos reports. (Published Wednesday, Jan 29, 2014)

Updated at 1:09 AM EST on Thursday, Jan 30, 2014

Friends came to the defense Wednesday of Terry Petit-Frere, a 17-year-old suspect that police said has been charged in two recent armed kidnappings.

Arrest in Kidnapping/Sexual Battery: Cops

A juvenile suspect has been arrested and charged in connection with the armed kidnapping and sexual battery of a woman earlier this month, North Miami Beach Police said Monday. NBC 6's Ari Odzer reports. (Published Monday, Jan 27, 2014)

"I just pray that he didn't do it. I don't think that he would. From me being here and living around him, I don't see him doing that," Tamika Wilson said of Petit-Frere Wednesday.

Christian Artega, a friend from his apartment complex, also defended him.

A second person of interest was taken into custody Tuesday in connection with the recent armed kidnapping and sexual battery of a woman, North Miami Beach Police said. (Published Tuesday, Jan 28, 2014)

"He does not seem like the type of person that would do this," Artega said.

No one answered the door at the teen's home. There was a long list of rules posted on the window warning those reading not to knock past midnight.

Miami-Dade Police say Petit-Frere wasn't good at obeying rules in their jurisdiction. They have charged him with armed robbery, armed kidnapping and false imprisonment over a separate November incident that happened at the Oak Grove apartment complex at 15455 Northeast 6th Ave. in Miami-Dade.

According to the arrest affidavit, Petit-Frere and an accomplice confronted a woman as she walked to her apartment. The 17-year-old allegedly pointed a firearm at the victim, demanding property and her keys, and later forced her into the trunk of her own vehicle.

After driving to a bank, where they withdrew money from her account, police said, the teen ordered the woman to pull down her pants and underwear. She complied out of fear, and he demanded that she use her fingers to masturbate as he touched her leg, according to police.

Petit-Frere was arrested Tuesday after he was followed by undercover North Miami Beach detectives when they spotted him in a blue Nissan, police said. Both North Miami Beach and Miami-Dade detectives questioned him after he was taken into custody.

"The only thing he mentioned he had a baby on the way. A little girl and that was it," said Wilson, about the last conversation she had with Petit-Frere.